Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Summer Lake Series by SJ McCoy with Reviews

Each Summer Lake Romance can be read as a stand alone book – no cliff hangers here! Each book contains one couple's story. However, they are best read in order to get full enjoyment of the underlying story and friendships.

Book 1: Love Like You've Never Been Hurt Emma and Jack

Book 2: Work Like You Don't Need the Money Pete and Holly

Book 3: Dance Like Nobody's Watching Missy and Dan

Synopsis

This book is intended for adult readers 18+

The Summer Lake contemporary romance series follows a group of friends from a small lakeside town in the California hills. They have kept in touch over the years and now, in their early thirties, their lives are drawing them back to Summer Lake and to each other.

Love Like You've Never Been Hurt

Emma Douglas came to Summer Lake as an orphan twenty three years ago. After losing her parents so young and later suffering a disastrous marriage, she believes that love only ever leads to pain and loss.

When she meets Jack Benson, the business partner of her childhood friend Pete, she sees everything she used to long for in a man; tall, dark, and drop dead gorgeous! Despite their undeniable attraction, Emma is too scared to risk her heart, especially on a man so much like her ex - sexy, smart, funny, successful and no doubt the same kind of cheat!

When events lead them both to Summer Lake for the summer, will Jack be able to persuade her that he's nothing like her ex in all the ways that really matter? That the love she used to dream of isn't a little girl's fantasy, but a reality they can share if she can get past her fear and learn to trust?

My Review: 4 1/2 stars

Escellent book with great characters. I loved how Emma and Jack came together. Jack's persistence and willingness to do whatever it took to have Emma. Emma's got issues. She won't let anyone in her life to love her because all it's brought before is pain. So she's not having it, she'll be friends with Jack, even if what she really wants is more. Jack's got his work cut out for him, but he's also got some people on his side that he didn't expect. Emma and Jack's chemistry is amazing. I loved how thoughtful and understanding Jack was about everything. Great start to this series, I can't wait for the next one!

Holly Hayes is a realist, if nothing else. She's going to be Maid of Honor at her best friend, Emma's wedding in Summer Lake. Pete Hemming, self made millionaire, powerful CEO, all around good guy, is going to be the Best Man. If they're going to be able to get through their official duties, there's one thing they'll need to deal with first. Sex!

He may be out of her league socially and financially, but one thing is clear. He wants her. She wants him. What's the harm in one night of passion? It's inevitable they're going to end up naked together. So it's best to get it out of the way early, right? So they can get on with organizing the wedding.

Pete Hemming is a man with a plan. He's lived his life by the plan, built his business by it. The plan doesn't allow for a woman in his life, only in his bed. Trouble is, once he gets Holly into his bed, he can't get her out of his mind. But he can't let her into his life, can he?

The Summer Lake series follows a group of friends from a small lakeside town in the California hills. They have kept in touch over the years and now, in their early thirties, their lives are drawing them back to Summer Lake and to each other.

This book is intended for adult readers 18+

My Review: 4 1/2 stars

Yet another great book in this series! I loved how Emma set up Pete and Holly. How she could see the potential for others around her. This book picks up just after the end of the first. The main difference is the couple being focused on is Pete and Holly. Holly doesn't think that she and Pete should be together because of their financial statuses. Pete doesn't have time for anyone in his plan. The plan that he's stuck to for years. But what do you do when you find someone who doesn't fit the plan, and you don't want to live without them? Pete mucks everything up pretty well before he comes to his senses, but then only because Missy reminds him of a conversation they had about 15 years ago. I absolutely loved that Pete was willing to play dirty to get what he wanted. Well, ok, not really dirty, but damn! dirty. Pete and Holy together were fantastic and she really took none of his crap. I really liked that about her. I also really enjoyed how all the characters from the first book were still very much involved in this one. Yet another fantastic ending and I really loved it.

Missy Malone has had a great summer, watching her friends meet wonderful guys and fall in love. She even has a wonderful guy in her own life. Trouble is, he's only in her life to mentor her son, Scot. She just has to stop daydreaming that he could be as good for her as he is for Scot. What would he ever see in her anyway? She's a broke single mom who talks too much, while he's a quiet, shy, tech genius. And besides...he has a girlfriend!

On paper, Dan Benson has a great life in San Jose. His software development company, his penthouse apartment, his car, and his girlfriend are all supposed to make him feel happy and successful. None of them do. Until he started visiting Summer Lake, he'd always been more comfortable around computers than people. These days he's comfortable hanging out with his brother, Jack, and his friends. He feels successful when he's helping Scot. Most of all, he's happier than he's ever been, when he can spend time with Missy.

Will the attraction between them be enough to overcome the differences and obstacles that stand in their way?

The Summer Lake series follows a group of friends from a small lakeside town in the California hills. They have kept in touch over the years and now, in their early thirties, their lives are drawing them back to Summer Lake and to each other.

This book is intended for adult readers 18+

My Review: 4 1/2 stars

I am really enjoying this series, to say the least. Of all the couples this one really stands out, only because they've known each other for a while before they get involved. Also because Missy has a son, Scot, and that's how Dan came to be involved in her life.

I really enjoyed Dan and Missy working toward a relationship with each other. I loved that Dan wanted to take care of her and Scot. Dan may have come up for Scot, to help him out, but he ended up falling for Missy, and Missy for Dan. Missy has had a hard life, working all the time to make sure that the bills are paid and Scot has what he needs. She's always put her needs last. Dan wants to change that. I loved meeting Missy's brother Chance and their other old friend, Michael. In fact, I think that if Michael wouldn't have come around and behaved the way he did, there's a chance that Dan never would have taken a chance with Missy. Michael made Dan realize that he wanted Missy and if he wasn't willing to step up, there were others who would. I loved Dan for his compassion and understanding of Missy's situation. I also loved that he was willing to walk away from a lot of other things because his life wasn't going where he wanted it to. I loved that Dan felt that Missy and Scot made him a better man, a man that he really wanted to be. The end was fantastic as always, but now I'm looking forward to reading the fourth book that must be about Ben.

Hi, I'm SJ. A
coffee addict, lover of chocolate and drinker of good red wines. I'm a lost
soul and a hopeless romantic. Reading and writing are necessary parts of who I
am. Though perhaps not as necessary as coffee! I can drink coffee without
writing, but I can't write without coffee.

I grew up loving romance novels, my first boyfriends were book boyfriends, but
life intervened, as it tends to do, and I wandered down the paths of non
fiction for many years. My life changed completely a couple of years ago and I
returned to Romance to find my escape.

I write 'Sweet N Steamy' stories because to me there is enough angst and
darkness in real life. My favorite romances are happy escapes with a focus on
fun, friendships and happily-ever-afters, just like the ones I write.

These days I live in beautiful Montana, the last best place. If I'm not reading
or writing you'll find me just down the road in the park - Yellowstone. I have
deer, eagles and the occasional bear for company, and I like it that way :0)Facebook: